The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-06

nave edcn eIaIh pEOuuce tcleraDly
well.developed ear. While we may
not iD this manner get the greatest ton.
| mage per acre, am Of the opinion that
we get the greatest feeding value. Hav-
ing taken care to plant SO that each
stalk shall be able to mature fair sized
ear of corn, do not commence to put into
the silo until the ear and stalk have
reached the greatest feeding value.
Each man must determine this for
himself, but think this point is reach.
ed when the corn is in the roasting
stage or just out of the milk, and is
ready to dent or glaze. Twenty tons
per acre by this method of growing,
would be a good average crop on good
well.tilled lands.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE sILO.
1t should be built above ground and
of wood, end made alright. This can
be done by two thicknesses of inch pine
boards. Common lumber, with one
thickness of building paper between,
nailed upon 2 by 10 inch studding on
the inside of the silo One thickness
of building paper, and any kind of sid
ing, should be nailed to the outside Of
the silo, making dead air space Have
door from near the top to the bottom,
for the purpose of getting the ensilage
out. The floor of earth (none other
necessary should be filled in and raised
+ to 10 inches above the level of the
surrounding land to secure it against
moisture or flooding in the bottom, and
good rain-proof roof. In short,
the three essentials are: Strength to re.
sist lateral pressure, which is consider.
able; air-tight, and water proof above
and below. The silo should be built
deeper than long or wide, so that the
ensilage will pack close and we'll by
its own pressure, and that the minimum
surface will be exposed while feeding
A good form for silo of three pits
would be 80 # by Is # outside. and 20
# high or deep Making the pits le by
le # inside and 20 # deep, would give
just 800 tons, or 100 to each pit. The
cheapest and best silos are made in the
barn, taking one of the bays and divid.
ing it into pits most convenient, ex-
tending from the ground to the caves,
with the doors, to feed from, opening
to the barn floor or stable. In estimat-
ing size of silo, calculate so cubic feet
to the ton, and three tons of ensilage as
the equivalent of one ton of best hay.
{ think I got this winter from two tons
Of silage the equivalent of one ton of
good hay.)
HOW TO FILL.
Cut the corn and let it lie and wilt
tweuty.four hours. Draw on low trucks
with rack just above wheels, fat, and
plauked over in the center, so that it
will bear the weight of man with an
armful of corn. Get 2 in. pine plank
IA in. wide and IL feet long and bolt
two hooks on one end that will catch
on the rear cross.piece of the rack.
Nail cleats across the plank, so the feet
will not slip when walking up it. Hook
this to the rear of tie rack, letting the
other end drag ON the ground To
load, take an armful of corn, walk up
the plank and deposit it on the front
end of the rack, and repeat until you
have a load, always keeping the butts
one way. Drive to the cutter, butts of
corn towards it, take from wagon and
put through the cutter, cutting in
lengths from one half to one inch. Fill
five to seven feet from one days cut.
ting in one pit, and let it stand until it
heats up to 1900 Fahrenheit.
This heating is important, as it cooks
and thickens the starch and sugar in
the corn stalks, and secures sweet en-.
silage. Don't be in hurry about fill
ing, On this account it is better to have
several pits, at least three; for it takes
three to four days for it to warm up and
cook sufficiently. Use thermometer;
don't guess at the temperature, and do
not be afraid of its getting too hot
should the thermometer reach 400, as
you would have the better ensilage.
he euSlidSc III Oho PiO Ha'ih5 ioooh0u
the desired temperature, cut more green
corn, same as before, into it. This
will draw the heat from below, and
when it is heated up to 1900, repeat
until the pit is full, or the crop is all
in. A series of three or four pits is
necessary for continuous work. For
instance, say you have three pits: cut
into pit No. l to-day; to morrow into
pit No. 2, the day after into pit No. 8,
and then go back to pit No. l, which
will probably be sufficiently cooked for
another layer of five or six feet. When
the pit or pits are full, or the crop is all
in, level off the top (and in fact the top
should be leveled and the corners
tramped down each filling, so that it
will settle level), tramp down the cor
ners, and after the top course is heated
uD to 1900 or l40o. cover with tarred
paper Tapped about two inches and
turning up at the ends about one foot.
On top Of this lay inch boards and on
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